Exploring Aberdeen/Greys Harbor II

     This page is all about Bellingham and Whatcom county.  What to do see and be here.  And I have many ideas for this page.  I really do, I just been busy with a little day called Christmas and all. ;)  This page is also all about exploring.   And the trail took us out of Bellingham --across the state actually to Aberdeen.   This trip gained us a new travel trailer, that is in our family's yard for storage, but will save us a lot in motel rooms this summer.  Of course all of our roaming this summer will make it in picture filled blogs.  As long as my work gives me time off.  So today I wish to share a few pictures and thoughts.  

      I usually warn people to make a U-Turn when they see the above sign.  But we do have some great friends and or family members that always make the trip worth while.  All of the water and such make for some great picture opportunities.   Since my wife grew up in this area, I will refrain from bad mouthing the area --for now.  The town does have one of the best motto's around though. 

  I can though bad mouth this motel!  In our travels we have stayed in some very bad places.  This is possibly the worse place we have ever stayed.  Nothing worked right, but we still payed full rent.  Including the bath tub that took six hours to drain.  They were closed down for awhile, to meet safety standards, and you can see some improvements going on now. 

     Just after the "welcome" sign, you pass this rock wall of sorts.   I have been exploring at the top, and can say it is worth the difficulty to climb.  You are greeted by water views just across the road.

   Just into town, take some time to explore this great park.  The bridge in the background is a draw bridge, the entire area has such bridges.  So don't be surprised if you have to wait for awhile.  

    

                                          Some fall color still hanging on for dear life.

Right past the park is a Starbucks.  

I took time to write one of my posts for my other blog at this coffee shop. 

If you call the random rambling writing.  

Let me know what you think--  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

The above sign is not over the Starbucks, and is actually a false sign.  

The shop is now closed.  

                               Behind the Wal Mart store is another good area to explore.  

                                              Abandoned pumpkin I found along the way. 

                                                                          O shaped trees.
   

Just before the sun came out for a little bit. 

They do not call it Grays Harbor for nothing. 

                                       Across some more bridges to Hoquium.   

   Both towns obviously benefit from the water.  But they also take logging seriously too.  A huge loggers rodeo greets visitors each year.  We have been to the parade and rodeo I am happy to report. 

                                                  Same blue boat, different types of draw bridges.  

   Behind the industrial area is a look out you can climb up and stare at the water.  

   Beyond is Ocean Shores and plenty of other great port towns.  I do not really like Ocean Shores.    It is one of those towns that could be a great tourist trap, but is far from being one yet.   You can also easily jump onto highway 101 from this area.  

  Lots of updates and new features in the works.   My next post will be all about weekend Christmas activities in wonderful Fairhaven.   

Halloween 2012

        I was very happy to have this Halloween off of work.  I love my job, but spending the "holiday"  with my three kiddos is much betterer for sure!  We already knew better than to attend the Trunk or Treat event at the massive Christ Is King Church.  This is a great event, but it is always way packed.  Plus going from car to car in a parking lot, does not seem much like trick or treating to me.  We also knew not to go to the event at Bellis Fair Mall.  If you have been there, you know.  

    In the morning Max, our youngest, and I set off on some trails near our house in beautiful Fairhaven.  To wear out our son and the dog.  I managed to get some neat pictures.  Although I wanted some fog filled pictures from inside the Bay View Cemetery.   What could be more Halloween-isk?  Is that even a word?  But on this day, it wasn't an option.  

The closest picture I got that day that was creepy at all. 

And his view....

Personal favorite tree in the middle of Fairhaven Park

Always more trails to explore!

Than it was time to dress up and head to Bellingham's great down town.  

I used bits and pieces of costumes, and we are still not sure what I was this year.

     MANY of the local business gave out lots of candy!   The instant winners in my book were the downtown barber shop--who gave out wrist text devices to all of the kids.  And Rocket Donuts who gave out free donuts---even for the adults!   

    One only had to look for the orange and black balloons, to receive lots of sugar!

      We than roamed the very busy and hilly streets of Fairhaven's down town.   About the time it started to get dark, and the stores were running out of candy, Washington weather returned and the rain started to dump on everyone.  

 

We went to Hillcrest Chapel to dry off.

They had lots of events for kids and lots of coffee and goodies for the adults. 

Part of the kids massive haul. 

    Most years my wife and I lock ourselves in the bedroom and search the candy for dangerous and or poisons.  Mainly stashing some of the best stuff for ourselves.  We should get some benefit for walking all over town with the kids.  But this year, we figured all of the candy was beyond safe.  

Except for lots of rain towards the end, it was a very nice Halloween.  I recall many freezing, snow filled Halloweens while growing up in Wyoming.  

     With many daze of no school coming up for any of us with kids----I take a minute to mention all of the craft kits that Wal- Mart has to offer.   Many are very reasonable--and most are pretty cool.  The above --- our boys and I did.  And it makes two catapults.  Complete with ammo and targets.   And lots of stickers to decorate.  But they have lots of other choices also.  

        We also got several gingerbread house kits.   Something we do every year.   I will think about listing some of our other traditions, as it actually gets closer to Christmas.  

  

Super Urban Exploring & Such

     I realize it is almost Turkey Day, and I have still not posted about our great Halloween yet.  This post really is coming!  Please also check out my other --more established blog sight ---full of random rambling, coffee love, pictures, jokes, and such.  At  http://www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com/  

                                                             Sheridan, Wyoming

    The sight includes some great exploring posts ---Great but not about Bellingham- so not on this sight.  

     Also in the works for this exploring sight----    Much about our youngest son and my running goals and exploring.  Complete with a blog co-written by him and his best buddy.   A listing of many  helpful local sights --for those that have just moved to Bellingham or are dreaming of living here soon.  I also found some older pictures, from exploring the area in the past, so I will be using many of these. Etc Etc Etc!  Please share this link, if you enjoy what you see!

This is a very old picture----But with Thanksgiving coming up, I have been counting my blessings. 

And at the top of the list ---is my great, loving family!

   Today's post starts about super urban exploring.   This is were one disappears in the gaps of woods and trees around busy areas of the city.    I do not have any pictures to go with this.  You will have to explore yourself-if you are so inclined.  I can tell you that --make shift forts and homeless tent cities are frequent in wooded areas.  I have not had a confrontation with any of the tent owners, but please tread lightly.   Much of this land is private property,  potentially adding to the fun of the trip.  Please note--I grew up in Wyoming, and am very easily entertained, so none of the following may be your idea of a great time!
       My examples today are-- 1.)  Just down from Home Depot  were the trailer park used to be.  This is a very open area, but has lots to explore.  And the area is surrounded by trees and running water.  Bring a bag or two---for recycling, because beer cans are very plentiful!  The parking lot just above this, were GI Joe's used to be, also offers some great insight.  If you are a people person.  Several people live out of there vehicles here.  Couches used to line the front of the old store.  And several recliners can be spotted in the trees surrounding the sight.  On a sunny day, it can be a very busy area, for being a closed store.  
    2.)  If you follow the mowed/blackberry bush border of Michale's  arts and craft store off of the guide, around the unloading dock, you enter some great exploring land.  
   3.)   Behind Wal-Mart there is some good exploring.   With lots of trees, and wrappers of items stolen from the store.   You might have to jump a fence to find better adventure.
   4.)  Behind the Fred Myers off Lakeway, is more wooded areas with plenty of trails.
    And lastly for today---- 
 If you park at Jack in The Box, and follow around the run off pond, there are trails all through the woods.   

    Another great way to explore around here-is to just jump a city bus and see were you end up.  Or jump off early and head up a trail.   Around Lake Whatcom is a terrific area.   If you have time to kill, head out to Blaine for some exploring around there bay and the boarder.  The bus to Lummi   also offers some great picture taking areas.   The bus system here is one of the best I have seen.  And the booklet---   lets you easily pick the right bus for your day.   The bus is also a great way to entertain your kiddos!   They will love taking the bus, even if it is just to downtown to check out the local shops and grab some coffee.   This is a quick, gas saving, cheap way to beat all the parking meters down town.   Please note---Fairhaven has NO parking meters and some great local business for sure!    
     A great game to play on the bus----  Before we got our car, my wife and I used to ride the bus a ton.   We started this "game" were we would take pictures of the most interesting, maybe strange people we saw on the bus.   To make it more interesting, we took the pictures with our cell phones, and really attempted to not let the subjects know we were taking there picture.   This allowed for more candid pictures, and kept us from getting our butts kicked, by people whose last picture was a mug shot.   At the end of the day, we would compare all the pictures we snuck, and pick the best one.  My wife almost always won this game with her pictures.   

Another great local game --my wife and I both enjoy--- involves the above huge rock.

When you are near the great city of Bellingham coming from the south,  nestled in the woods, is this huge boulder.  

It gets painted all of the time.

Above happens to promote a blog sight I visit several times a week.  

With many awesome pictures.  In fact some of my shots were fashioned after ones from this sight.  

This picture was stolen from this very sight.  But I hope that if I keep telling how much I enjoy there blog --and push viewers to it, I will be forgiven?

Anyways,  any time we head south, on the return trip, my wife tries to take a picture of this rock.

We were very positive we knew were the rock was, but it seems hidden every trip. 

Long story -short, we still have no picture of this rock.  And have drove the trip at least a dozen times now.   ;)

Another good traveling game---is to call out the licence plates you see while on the road.  

This is not a good game here---because you mostly just here 

Washington and Canada yelled out over and over!

    Lastly for today---hooray!    A local game we play with the kiddos.   At least in the Fairhaven Haggin --- they have a full sized cow and several baby pig models.   The piglets seem to roam the store  and be displayed all through the grocery store.  I don't know if they get in the way, or the workers are overly bored.   Either way, each time we visit, we see who can spot both of the lil pigs first.   

    

     

Again By The Bay --Quickie Post

             **"It's amazing how calming a good cigar down by the bay can be."**


    I have greatly been slackin' on posts lately.   So today---with time to kill--- I double post.  I am leaving this great state in two weeks.  So trying to enjoy all the beauty the area has to offer  just in case I never return here.  Especially when it is sunny outside.   The summers here rock, filled with sun and activities.  But this time of year, people stare at the sky, squinting, wandering what that bright light in the sky is.   At the moment I am living less than a mile from the bay.  And find my way by the water near sunset, trying to get that perfect set of pictures.  Here are my latest attempts.  
    

 Again the last few days I ended up near the awesome bay.  

This seagull does not have a screwed up beak, he found a clam.   They fly above you with there prizes and drop them on the rocks so they can eat the insides.  Watch your head!

Patrick the starfish from Spongebob?   I worked with a co-worker at Wally World that could do the Spongebob laugh perfectly.  He would broadcast it over the PA all the time.  Anything is instantly more amusing of the speaker system.  

Of course

he is also the same worker that would answer the work phone, yell thanks for calling Home Depot and hang up.   Or something even more random.

Leaving Fairhaven into Bellingham on the trails.

Hard to see in the picture, but there is a bird on each of these poles--chillin.

At the Bellingham terminals keep going left.   This is under the RR bridge.   All in more detail in past posts.  Mainly just sharing new sights. 

The runoff water behind the bridge reflections.

This is a bad picture, but a maze made out of rocks.  Many rocks.  It is large enough you could wander through it on foot.  

The Zodiac is in port by the Bellingham terminal.  This day they were setting up the sails and such.

My new friend  after the hike. 

Happy trails and much sunshine to all --wherever you find yourself wandering.